The nominal case-marker of the terminative is /še/written the sign ŠE₃. The verbal prefix is /ši/, written with the sign ŠI.
Around the middle of the 3rd millennium BCE the vowel of the terminative prefix /ši/assimilated to the vowel of the following syllable in respect of vowel height (the so-called ‘vowel harmony’ of the literature). The “high”
form was written with the grapheme ŠI, transliterated as ši-; while the “low” form was written with grapheme ŠE₃, transliterated as še₃-, see, e.g., ex. (356) below.
When the nominal case-marker is preceded by an open syllable, then the enclitic =/še/may be reduced to /š/, in which case the terminative case-marker is often not present graphemically, especially in the 3rd millennium BCE, see, e.g., ex. (358) below.
The co-occurrence of the noun phrase with a terminative case-marker and the terminative prefix is rather loose: adverbially used verbal participants in the terminative often occur without any corresponding prefix in the verbal prefix-chain, see, e.g., exx. (348) and (375) below.
The terminative may be used with both human and non-human verbal participants. In the verbal prefix-chain the participant in the terminative may be cross-referenced either by a composite or by a simple adverbial prefix, for the latter see, e.g., ex. (356) below. The simple prefix always cross-references a 3rd ps. sg. non-human participant.
The 1st ps. sg. pronominal prefix is the IPP /ʾ/in S6, see, e.g., ex. (373) below. The 2nd ps. sg. pronominal prefix is the IPP /e/in S6, see, e.g., ex. (372) below.
The 3rd ps. sg. human pronominal is expressed with the prefix /n/in S6.
The 3rd ps. sg. non-human pronominal prefix is expressed with the prefix /b/
in S5 of the verbal template. When S5 is occupied by the middle prefix /ba/-, then the pronominal prefix /b/may not be used and the terminative prefix occurs in its simple form without a pronominal prefix, see, e.g., ex. (377) below.
The ablative and the terminative case
The 3rd ps. pl. human pronominal prefix is the IPP /nnē/in S6, see, ex. (351) below.
The basic function of the terminative is to denote the destination or goal of the verbal event.
(345) En-ana-tum I 2 rev. 4:10–5:2 (RIME 1.9.4.2) (Lagash, 24th c.) (P222496) eg₂ ki-sur-ra, dnin-ŋir-⸢su⸣-ka-še₃, mu-gaz
eg kisura=ak ninŋirsuk=ak=še S4mu-S11n-S12gaz-S14-ø dyke border DN=GEN=TERM VEN-3.SG.H.A-kill-3.SG.P
“(En-ana-tum) drove (Urluma, ruler of Umma) back until the border canal of Ningirsu.”
(346) Gudea Cyl. A 2:5 (Lagash, 22nd c.) (ETCSL 2.1.7) iri-ne₂ niŋin₆ki-še₃ id₂-niŋin₆ki-du-a iri=ane niŋin=še idniŋindua=ʾa city=3.SG.H.POSS GN=TERM WN=L1
ma₂ mu-ni-ri
ma=ø S4mu-S10ni-S11n-S12ri-S14ø boat=ABS VEN-L1-3.SG.H.A-impose-3.SG.P
“He directed the boat on the canal Id-Niŋin-dua towards her city Niŋin.
(347) Gudea Cyl. A 4:5 (Lagash, 22nd c.) (ETCSL 2.1.7) ensi₂-ke₄ kisal diŋir sirara₆-ta-ka
“The ruler raised his head high (lit., ‘towards the sky’) in the courtyard of the goddess from Sirara.”
(348) Gudea Cyl. A 15:10 (Lagash, 22nd c.) (ETCSL 2.1.7)
gu₃-de₂-a iri-ne₂ ŋir₂-suki-še₃ gu₂ mu-na-si-si
gudea=ra iri=ane ŋirsu=še gu=ø S4mu-S6nn-S7a-S12si~si-S14e PN=DAT city=3.SG.H.POSS GN=TERM neck=ABS VEN-3.SG.H-DAT-fill~PF-3.SG.A
“(Magan and Meluhha) gathered for Gudea at his city Girsu.”
(349) Gudea Cyl. B 5:4–5 (Lagash, 22nd c.) (ETCSL 2.1.7)
ur-saŋ e₂-a-na ku₄-ku₄-da-ne₂,
ursaŋ=ø e=ane=ʾa ku~ku-ed-ʾa=ane=e
hero=ABS house=3.SG.H.POSS=L1 enter~PF-PF-SUB-3.SG.H.POSS=L3.NH LESSON13
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ud me₃-še₃ gu₃ ŋa₂ŋar-am₃
ud me=še gu=ø ŋar-ø=ø=am-ø
storm battle=TERM sound=ABS put-TL=ABS=COP-3.SG.S
“As the warrior entered his temple, he was a storm roaring into battle.”
(350) NG 120b rev. 9–10 (Umma, 21st c.) (P131776) nag-suki-še₃ ḫa-za-num₂-e, mu-na-an-laḫ₅
nagsu=še hazanum=e S4mu-S6nn-S7a-S11n-S12laḫ-S14ø GN=TERM mayor=ERG VEN-3.SG.H-DAT-3.SG.H.A-bring.PL-3.SG.P
“The mayor took them (= the sheep) for him to Nagsu.”
(351) SNAT 125 obv. 4–7 (unknown, 21st c.) (P129886)
ur-dnin-tur₅-ke₄, ur-dsuen u₃, nin-dub-sar dam-ne₂-še₃, urninturak=e ursuen u nindubsar dam=ane=še
PN₁=ERG PN₂ and PN₃ wife=3.SG.H.POSS=TERM
in-ne-ši-sa₁₀
S2i-S6nnē-S9ši-S11n-S12sa-S14ø
FIN-3.PL-TERM-3.SG.H.A-buy-3.SG.P
“Ur-Nintura bought (a maiden) from (lit. ‘bartered [a maiden] towards’) Ur-Suen and Nindubsar, his wife, (for 2 and 2/3 shekels of silver ).”
(352) HSS 3, 42 rev. 2:1 (Lagash, 24th c.) (P221351) ŋeš-zi e₂-muhaldim-še₂, ŋal₂-la
ŋešzi emuhaldim=še ŋal-ʾa wall kitchen=term exist-PT
“wall that lies towards the kitchen”
The destination of the verbal event may also be an abstract entity but not a locality. The noun phrase in the terminative may then denote the result, see exx. (353)–(355), purpose, see exx. (357)–(362), or the reason of the verbal event, see exx. (363)–(366).
Abstract destination = result (353) DP 307 obv. 2:1–6 (Lagash, 24th c.) (P220957)
ku₆ hab₂-še₃ ak-de₃, amar-girid₂ki muḫaldimra,
ku=ø hab=še ak-ed=e amargirid muḫaldim=ra
fish=ABS fish.oil=TERM make-PF=DAT.NH PN₁ cook=DAT.H
en-ig-gal, nu-banda₂, e-na-šum₂
en-ig-gal nubanda=e S2i-S6nn-S7a-S11n-S12šum-S14ø PN₂ overseer=ERG FIN-3.SG.H-DAT-3.SG.H.A-give-3.SG.P
“En-iggal, the overseer, has given the fish to Amar-Girid, the cook, so that he (= A.) makes them into fish-oil (?).”
The ablative and the terminative case
(354) Gudea Statue A 3:2–3 (Lagash, 22nd c.) (P232274) alan-na-ne₂-še₃, mu-tud
alan=ane=še S4mu-S11n-S12tud-S14ø statue=3.SG.H.POSS=TERM VEN-3.SG.H.A-bear-3.SG.P
“He made it (= block of diorite) into his own statue.”
(355) Gudea Statue B 5:45–47 (Lagash, 22nd c.) (P232275)
ŋešeren-be₂, ig gal-še₃, mu-dim₂
eren=be=ø ig gal-ø=še S4mu-S11n-S12dim-S14ø cedar=DEM=ABS door great-TL=TERM VEN-3.SG.H.A-make-3.SG.P
“He manufactured the cedar-beams into big doors.”
Abstract destination = purpose (356) Aya-Ane-pada 6 1–5 (RIME 1.13.6.6) (Ur, 24th c.) (P222841)
d⸢nin⸣-a-zu₅, lu₂-dug₃-[ga], nam-til₃, aya₂-an-ne₂-pad₃-da-še₃, ninazu=ra luduga=e namtil ayaanepada=ak=še DN=DAT.H PN₁=ERG life PN₂=GEN=TERM
a mu-na-še₃-ru
a=ø S4mu-S6nn-S7a-S9ši-S11n-S12ru-S14ø water=ABS VEN-3.SG.H-DAT-TERM-3.SG.H.A-impose-3.SG.P
“To Nin-azu, Luduga dedicated this for the well-being of Aya-Ane-pada.”
Note that in the following example there are two verbal participants in the terminative:
(357) Anonymous Nippur 6 1–7 (Nippur, 24th c.) (P222761)
dnin-lil₂, den-lilₓ(E₂)-la₂, dumu ad-da-ke₄, ninlil=ra enlilak dumu adda=ak=e DN=DAT.H PN₁ child PN₂=GEN=ERG
ga-til₃-la-še₃, nam-til₃, dam dumu-na-še₃, gatila=še namtil dam dumu=ane=ak=še
offering=TERMlife wife child=3.SG.H.POSS=GEN=TERM
a mu-na-ru
a=ø S4mu-S6nn-S7a-S11n-S12ru-S14ø water=ABS VEN-3.SG.H-DAT-3.SG.H.A-impose-3.SG.P
“To Ninlil, Enlila, child of Adda, dedicated this (vessel) as a votive offering for the well-being of his spouse and child.”
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(358) E-ana-tum 1 obv. 4:20–23 (RIME 1.9.3.1) (Lagash, 25th c.) (P222399) e₂-an-na, dinana, eb-gal-ka-ka a-tum₂,
eana inanak ebgal=ak=ak=ʾa S2a-S5b-S10(i>)øS12tum-S14ø TN₁ DN TN₂=GEN=GEN=L2.NH FIN-3.SG.NH-L2.SYN-worthy.of-3.SG.S
mu mu-ne₂-še₂₁
mu=še S4mu-S6nn-S10i-S11n-S12še-S14ø name=TERM VEN-3.SG.H-L2-3.SG.H.A-call-3.SG.P
“(Inana) named (lit. ‘called as name’) him (= ana-tum) ‘He is worthy of the E-ana of InE-ana of the Ebgal’.”
(359) Ishme-Dagan 7 1–7 (RIME 4.1.4.7) (Isin, 20th c.) (Q001951)
diš-me-dda-gan, lugal ki-en-gi ki-uri-ra, ud den-lil₂-le, dnin-urta, išmedagan lugal kengir kiuri=ak=ra ud enlil=e ninurta
PN king GN GN=GEN=L3.H day DN=ERG DN
ur-saŋ kalag-ga-ne₂, maškim-še₃,
ursaŋ kalag=ane=ø maškim=še
hero strong=3.SG.H.POSS=ABS deputy=TERM
mu-ni-in-tuku-a
S4mu-S6nn-S10i-S11n-S12tuku-S14ø-S15ʾa=ʾa
VEN-3.SG.H-L3-3.SG.H.A-have-3.SG.P-SUB=L1
“When the god Enlil appointed Ninurta, his powerful warrior, as commissioner to Ishme-Dagan, king of Sumer and Akkad.”
(360) Iri-kagina 14q 1–2 (Lagash, 24th c.) (P222653) iri-ka-gi-na, nam-sipad-še₃ mu-tud
irikaginak=ø namsipad=še₃ S4mu-S11n-S12tud-S14ø PN=ABS shepherdship=TERM VEN-3.SG.H.A-bear-3.SG.P
“(Bau) gave birth to Iri-kagina so that he becomes a shepherd.”
(361) En-ana-tum I 3 15–16 (RIME 1.9.4.3) (Lagash, 24th c.) (P431100) ur ḫa-lu-ub₂, i₃-du₈-še₃ mu-na-durunₓ(TUŠ.TUŠ)-na
ur ḫalub idu=še S4mu-S6nn-S7a-S11n-S12durun-S14ø-S15ʾa=ʾa lion halub.tree doorkeeper=TERM VEN-3.SG.H-DAT-3.SG.H.A-sit.PL-3.SG.P-SUB=L2.NH
“… on the halub-tree lions which he seated for him as doorkeepers.”
(362) AUCT 1, 328 obv. 5–6 (Drehem, 21st c.) (P103173) 1 gud šu-gid₂, e₂-muhaldim-še₃
1 gud šugid emuhaldim=še 1 bull supply kitchen=TERM
“1 bull, supply for the kitchen”
The ablative and the terminative case
Abstract destination = reason (363) Gudea Cyl. A 4:16 (Lagash, 22nd c.) (ETCSL 2.1.7)
a-ne saŋ-ŋa₂-ne₂-še₃ diŋir-ra-am₃
ane=ø saŋ=ane=še diŋir=ø=am-ø
3.SG.PR=ABS head=3.SG.H.POSS=TERM god=ABS=COP-3.SG.S
“He, because of his head, was a god.”
(364) Gudea Cyl. A 23:26 (Lagash, 22nd c.) (ETCSL 2.1.7) lugal mu-ne₂-še₃ kur tuku₂-tuku₂-e lugal mu=ane=še kur=ø tuku~tuku-ø=e
king name=3.SG.H.POSS=TERM mountain=ABS rock~PL-TL=ERG
“The king, at whose name (lit. ‘because of whose name’) all foreign countries tremble.”
With the compound verb šu “hand” — ti “to approach” = “to receive” the terminative denotes the participant from whom something is received:
(365) Gudea Cyl. A 2:21–22 (Lagash, 22nd c.) (ETCSL 2.1.7)
lugal-a-ne₂ sizkur₂ ra₂-zu-ne₂ gu₃-de₂-a-aš₂,
lugal=ane=e sizkur arazu=ane=ø gudea=še
king=3.SG.H.POSS=ERG prayer supplication=3.SG.H.POSS=ABS PN=TERM
en dnin-ŋir₂-su-ke₄ šu ba-ši-ti
en ninŋirsuk=e šu=e S5ba-S6n-S9ši-S11n-S12ti-S14ø
lord DN=ERG hand=L3.NH MID-3.SG.H-TERM-3.SG.H.A-approach-3.SG.P
“His master, Lord Ningirsu, accepted from Gudea his prayer and supplication.”
The terminative is used in the construction mu “name”/bar “outside”
NP=ak/possessive pronoun=še, which means “because of” (see also ex. [81] in Lesson 5, section 5.3. above):
(366) LEM 178 7 (Lagash, 21st c.) (P112521)
bar-ŋu₁₀-še₃ šu ḫe-bar-re
bar=ŋu=še šu=ø S1ḫa-S2i-S5b-S10(i>)ø -S12bar-S14e outside=1.SG.POSS=TERM hand=ABS MOD-FIN-3.SG.NH-L2.SYN-open-3.SG.A
“May he release it because of me!”
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(367) OIP 121, 470 11 (Drehem, 21st c.) (P124200) mu šagina ŋišbunₓ(KI.BI) tuš-ša-ne-še₃ mu šagina ŋišbun=ø tuš-ʾa=enē=ak=še name general meal=ABS sit-PT=PL=GEN=TERM
“because of the generals who are having a meal”
The terminative may also be used in a temporal sense: noun phrases in the terminative answer the question “until when, how long”:
(368) TCS 1, 56 rev. 5 (Umma, 21st. c.) (P145646) ud-te-ta ŋi₆-ba-še₃
udten=ta ŋiba=še evening=ABL midnight=TERM
“from evening until midnight”
The terminative is used in the construction igi NP=ak/possessive pronoun=še, which means “before, in the presence of”:
(369) Sargon 11 36–37 (RIME 2.1.1.11) (Agade, 23rd c.) (Q001403) igi-ne₂-še₃, ninda i₃-gu₇-e
igi=ane=še ninda=ø S2i-S11b-S12gu-S14e face=3.SG.H.POSS=TERM bread=ABS FIN-3.SG.NH.P-eat-3.SG.A
“(5400 people) eat (daily) before him (= Sharrukin)
Verbs of seeing may construe their perceptual target with the terminative as in the following examples:
(370) Gudea Cyl. A 1:3 (Lagash, 22nd c.) (ETCSL 2.1.7)
den-lil₂-e en dnin-ŋir₂-su₂-še₃
“Enlil looked at lord Ningirsu with approval.”
(371) Gudea Statue B 3:6–7 (Lagash, 22nd c.) (P232275) ud dnin-ŋir₂-su-ke₄, iri-ne₂-še₃
“When Ningirsu had looked favourably upon his city, ….”
The ablative and the terminative case
(372) Shulgi R 2 (ETCSL 2.4.2.18)
[a]-⸢a⸣ den-lil₂-le igi zid mu-u₃-ši-bar
aja enlil=e igi zid-ø=ø S4mu-S6e-S9ši-S11n-S12bar-S14ø father DN=ERG face right-TL=ABS VEN-2.SG-TERM-3.SG.H.A-direct-3.SG.P
“Father Enlil looked at you with approval.”
(373) Ishme-Dagan A Segment A 103 (ETCSL 2.5.4.01) igi nam-til₃-la-ka-ne₂ ḫu-mu-ši-in-bar
igi namtil=ak=ane=ø S1ḫa-S4mu-S6ʾ-S9ši-S11n-S12bar-S14ø face life=GEN=3.SG.H.POSS=ABS MOD-VEN-1.SG-TERM-3.SG.H.A-direct-3.SG.P
“She indeed looked at me with her life-giving look.”
(374) Gudea Cyl. A 19:24 (Lagash, 22nd c.) (ETCSL 2.1.7)
ab₂ amar-be₂-še₃ igi ŋal₂-la-gen₇
ab amar=be=še igi=ø ŋal-ʾa=gen
cow calf-3.SG.NH.POSS=TERM eye=ABS exist-PT-EQU
“Like a cow keeping an eye on its calf, …”
In some cases, the terminative appears to express not destination, but location next to something, as in the following examples:
(375) En-ana-tum I 3 11 (RIME 1.9.4.3) (Lagash, 24th c.) (P431100) e₂-še₃ mu-na-si-si-ga
e=še S4mu-S6nn-S7a-S11n-S12sig~sig-S14ø-S15ʾa house=TERM VEN-3.SG.H-DAT-3.SG.H.A-fill~PL-3.SG.P-SUB
“(when …) he set them (= cedar trees) up around the temple.”
(376) Gudea Cyl. A 2:24 (Lagash, 22nd c.) (ETCSL 2.1.7)
ensi₂-ke₄ dŋa₂-tum₃-dug₃-še₃ ki-nu₂-a-ne₂ ba-gub
ensik=e ŋatumdug=še kinu=ane=ø S5ba-S11n-S12gub-S14ø ruler=ERG DN=TERM bed=3.SG.H.POSS=ABS MID-3.SG.H.A-stand-3.SG.P
“The ruler set up his bed for himself near to Gatumdug.”
(377) Gudea Cyl. A 13:16 (Lagash, 22nd c.) (ETCSL 2.1.7) pisaŋ u₃-šub-ba-še₃ maš₂ ba-ši-nu₂
pisaŋ ušub=ak=še maš=ø S5ba-S9ši-S11n-S12nu-S14ø frame mould=GEN=TERM kid=ABS MID-TERM-3.SG.H.A-lie-3.SG.P
“At the brick-mould he had a kid lie down.”
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Further readings
For both cases one may consult the corresponding sections of Gragg 1973, Balke 2006, and Jagersma 2010, whose descriptions, however, differ in their approach to cases in Sumerian. The approach of the present textbook’s author is explained in Zólyomi 2010.
The constructions used with the compound verb igi — barare discussed in Zólyomi 2007b. This study also discusses the changes in these constructions on the influence of Akkadian.
The interpretation of ex. (338) above and the function of the adnominal ablative are discussed in Bauer 2005.
On the different constructions used with the adnominal ablative, see Sövegjártó 2011: 31–32, who convincingly argues in connection with the equative case that a noun phrase in an adnominal case may not be part of the noun phrase whose head it modifies.
Exercises
13.1 Look up the new words used in the examples of this lesson in Foxvog’s (2016b) or Volk’s (2012) glossary, and learn them.
13.2 Study the examples of this lesson carefully and make yourself familiar with their grammatical analysis.
13.3 Transliterate the text of NG 1 (Lagash, 21st c.) (P111896) (a handcopy of the text can be found at http://cdli.ucla.edu/P111896) with the help of Volk’s sign list (2012), the text is no. 32 in Volk’s (2012) chrestomathy. Translate the text with the help of either Volk’s (2012) or Foxvog’s glossary (2016b). Assign morphemic segmentation and glossing to the verbal forms.
13.4 Transliterate the text of NG 69 (Umma, 21st c.) (P101688) (a handcopy of the text can be found at http://cdli.ucla.edu/P101688) with the help of Volk’s sign list (2012). Translate the text with the help of either Volk’s (2012) or Foxvog’s glossary (2016b). Assign morphemic segmentation and glossing to the verbal forms.
13.5 Transliterate the text VS 14, 35 (Lagash, 24th c.) (P020049) with the help of Volk’s sign list (2012). A copy and photo of the text can be found at http://cdli.ucla.
edu/P020049. The text is no. 42 in Volk’s (2012) chrestomathy. Translate the text with the help of Volk’s (2012) or Foxvog’s (2016b) glossary. For the numerical The ablative and the terminative case